THE continental-style Christmas market has brought a festive sparkle to Carlisle city centre - but opinion is divided on its impact on local businesses.
Supporters say it drives footfall and brings millions into the local economy, but detractors suggest that the retail sector in Carlisle city centre is hurt by the influx of competition at an important time of year.
This year, the Christmas market features assorted food and gift stalls as well as entertainment including a helter skelter and a Ferris wheel.
“The Christmas market provides a strong motivation to draw people into the city - who may otherwise have spent online or elsewhere," said a Cumberland Council spokesperson.
“Research on previous events has shown that dwell times were high and 45 per cent of people interviewed said they would be spending longer in Carlisle as a direct result of the market."
But David Gardiner, owner of independent gift shop Ashbridge and Brown, said his business suffers each year. “What I can’t ignore is the fact that as a business we’ve been consistently doing better until literally December 1, when all of a sudden we’re not seeing the people or taking the money.
“This is repeated in other years for the Easter and August markets, and numerous businesses have complained over the years,” Mr Gardiner said.
He said that while he has nothing against events, having previously worked as a big events manager, he believes the market should work to attract people to shop locally instead of at the market, which he said contains many roving businesses that do not operate permanently in the area.
He added: “It’s been disastrous for years, and though I can see someone’s made the effort to improve it this year, what they’ve done is gone from four days to 17 days at the busiest time of the year.
“It literally is the only time of the year when you can make serious money, and we’re not here to buy a third yacht, we’re paying the wages of our staff and paying our bills.
“I just cannot for the life of me see how we can be up in November and 20 per cent down in December from last year.”
In a rough estimate, he said he loses around £30,000 a year because of the markets, but added that overall it has been a good year.
It’s not just gift shops, Mr Gardiner added, but restaurants too: “It affects the food people more than us.
“I understand these people are trying to earn a living, but the bottom line is if you want me to pay rent, you have to help us."
OKA Tapasu, a recently relocated restaurant on the Greenmarket, has faced similar issues. Its owner, James Hill, said: “It’s a tough one because we want the town centre to be Christmassy and I do think that this year with the new decorations and lighting, it is far better than the past.
“But I don’t think it needs as much food or drink, because Carlisle isn’t really a shopping hub anymore and we’ve gone more down the route where there are more bars and restaurants.
“This year has a helter skelter and more entertainment, if they were going at it and made it more entertainment-based rather than a food market it would benefit the city more.”
He said what works for Manchester, York and Edinburgh – cities with famous Christmas markets – does not necessarily work in Carlisle.
“There, the population is so much higher and it doesn’t affect the local businesses as much.
“There’s live music at Manchester – I was there last Sunday, and people were about in the streets, it’s entertainment value, and it’s the same in Edinburgh.
“If Carlisle does this, the market will still make money,” he concluded, while adding this will mean more people will buy gifts and food from established local independent businesses in the city.
A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: “The Christmas market provides a huge boost to the economy.
“Last year the Christmas market generated an additional footfall of 40,000 compared to the same week the previous year.
“Figures for last year’s event also showed that more than £3.8million was generated for the local economy.
“The longer times people spent in the city in turn generated additional expenditure in shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
“This year’s market is over an extended period and is likely to attract more visitors and more revenue.
“The council supports local businesses and has been promoting local events and markets in the build-up to the festive period.
“We have been encouraging residents and visitors to shop local and buy local.”
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